Vermont Scam Alert by the Vermont Attorney General
The Consumer Assistance Program has recorded a 220% increase in gift card scams with loss reports since December.
Gift card scams take many forms; however, all request a gift card as payment and for the numbers on the back of the card to be provided to the scammer.
Be in the know:
Using gift cards as payment is like sending cash.
Providing the numbers on the back of the card is like giving cash: Scammers may ask you to take pictures of the card or relay the numbers of the phone.
Scammers may say you must pay with a gift card because your credit card or another form of payment won’t work.
Scammers may claim that using the gift cards will provide you certain incentives or free money opportunities.
Gift cards are only valid forms of payment when used with the card’s identified retailer.
Retail businesses can’t refund gift card funds that have been spent.
Gift Card Scams video produced by the Federal Trade Commission
Watch out for this and other similar scams that ask you to act quickly by providing gift card information, cash or money order, or by sending a wire transfer or peer-to-peer payment.
If you are asked to pay with a gift card, contact CAP right away at 1-800-649-2424.
This week, during National Consumer Protection week, our staff members are opening up and sharing stories of when they were scammed. Because no one is invincible to being #scammed. Let’s keep the dialogue moving, share this post and your own scam stories and lessons learned.
Entangling yourself in a scam to see where it goes, or generally thinking you are smarter than the scammer will lead to loss. I know, because I’ve been there. When I was living on my own far from friends and family, a magazine salesperson arrived at my door. After giving him a glass of water and listening to his dream of winning a contest affiliated with his magazine sales, I reviewed his long list of magazines and I agreed to subscribe. He instructed me to pay with a check or credit card. I knew doing this would give him all my account information and enable him to steal it. Or, I could pay cash. I grinned inside as I realized I had enough cash on hand to complete the transaction, $80. I gave it to him and signed up for four five-year subscriptions.
When the transaction was complete, he ran out the door waving the pile of cash and barreled into his friend’s car, as if leaving the scene of a bank robbery. I gave him exactly what he wanted—my money without a trace.
Though at the time I was much less savvy than I am now, I, like you, considered myself to be smart and in the know. I was college educated and self-sufficient. Before I was scammed, I had no reason to question the honesty or validity of the seller I engaged with. Thinking back to the incident now, I am awash with shame. I regret my gullibility and naiveté in thinking that a perfect stranger had no ill intent.
Here are my scam lessons learned:
Practice safety first. Always check to see who is knocking on your door by looking through the peephole or out a window before opening the door. I was disarmed, because I expected a guest. Had I taken this step; I would not have opened the door to a stranger.
If you open the door, it’s fine to be kind to solicitors, but hospitality is not necessary. Keep solicitors outside and in view of neighbors.
If interested, get all the information and details in writing so you have time to consider and look into the offer.
Never pay on the spot.
Never pay for door-to-door purchases with cash, money order, bank check, personal check, wire transfer, gift cards (outside the merchant’s website), peer-to-peer payment, bitcoin, and any other option that is not a credit card or known transmitter.
Once I was scammed, there are more things I
could have done to identify the scammer to authorities and prevent others from
being victimized:
I could have documented the license plate, make and model of the vehicle and reported the incident to the police.
I could have gotten copies of materials related to the solicitation, and if he refused, written down the information.
I could have filed a complaint with the Consumer Assistance Program so they could alert the public of such scams.
Magazine and door-to-door scammers are still
present today. At CAP, we most often hear about itinerant pavers that claim to
be in the area with extra materials and request payment from you to secure a
steep discount. Door-to-door meat sellers, chimney sweeps, and alarm installers
have also cold called Vermonters and have taken money without fulfilling
orders. The best way to avoid door-to-door scams is to wait before buying.
Allowing yourself a waiting period gives you time to check into the company and
the offer and to talk it over with others.
The scam artist hopes that the instilled shame that we “should have known better” will prevent us from sharing our story. Why? Because the best scam prevention tactic that we can all partake in is awareness.This week, I shared my stories of being scammed because I know I am not alone, and I don’t want others to experience what I have. The best thing we can do is band together as a strong Vermont community and fight the scammers by sharing our stories.
Have you ever been scammed? Tell us about it. Share this post and your own scam stories and lessons learned. The best form of prevention is awareness.
Looking for love online? The Consumer Assistance Program is here to help you make sure that your personal information and money are secure!
Romance Scams
How
it works: The scammer creates a fake profile on a dating site or app. They
may also initiate contact through Instagram, Facebook, Words With Friends, or
Google Hangouts. Then, the scammer strikes up a relationship with their victim,
gains their trust, and maintains sustained contact.
Spotting the scam: The scammer spins a story and asks you to
send them personal information or money. They may ask you to send gift cards,
mail cash, or wire them money via Western Union or MoneyGram.
What to do: End all communications with the scammer. Block the
individual and/or report them to the website or app company. Do not send money
or reveal personal information such as: social security number, bank accounts,
credit card numbers, photo of your driver’s license, etc. If you have sent
money or given the scammer access to sensitive information, call the Consumer
Assistance Program.
How it works: You receive an email from an unknown source. The message
claims that they know your passwords and have planted malware on your computer.
They claim that the malware has captured evidence of all your computer activity
– including sensitive photos or visits to adult websites. They threaten to share this evidence with all
of your email or social media contacts. The scammer demands hush money in the
form of gift cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfers.
Spotting the scam: The message might look generic and have numerous typos. They demand that you respond quickly, maybe within 24 hours. The passwords they claim to have appear to be old or may be log-in information you use for a website.
What to do: Do not reply to the message. Do not send money or
personal information. Change your passwords to ensure your online security,
especially if a website you use has recently experienced a data breach. Do not
click on any links or attachments on the email. Make sure that your antivirus
software is up to date.
Adult Website Pop-Ups
How it works: You are visiting an adult website when a pop-up message
appears. The pop-up might be flashing or include sound. The pop-up may claim to
be “Windows Support” or state that “Your computer may have a virus!” It is
designed to pressure the user into a sense of panic. The message might prompt
you to call someone for technical assistance.
Spotting the scam: Real computer tech support specialists will
never ask you to call them in this manner. The pop-up may demand immediate
action, payment, or prompt you to download something.
What to do: Turn off
your computer and disconnect from the internet. Make sure that your antivirus
software is up to date and functioning. If necessary, you may decide to seek
out assistance from a trusted tech support professional.
Remember: some scammers are betting that topics of romance and sex can be sensitive or even embarrassing. Please don’t let these feelings keep you from calling CAP to get help! The reality is that we regularly hear from consumers who have been affected by these scams. Pick up the phone and give us a call if you feel you may have been scammed:1-800-649-2424.
According to the United
States Census Bureau, the
Census counts every resident in the United States. Mandated by the
Constitution, the Census takes place every 10 years. The data collected by the Census
determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of
Representatives and is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local
communities (U.S. Census Bureau).
“The Census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.” – U.S. Census Bureau
Why should I complete
the Census?
Federal funds, grants and state support are based on
population totals collected by the census. The federal money is spent on
schools, infrastructure, hospitals, and many other programs. Businesses,
developers, and local governments also use census data (U.S. Census Bureau).
Know the facts.
According to the Federal
Trade Commission, the Census Bureau will start mailing out (and, in
some areas, hand delivering) invitations to participate in the 2020 Census in mid-March. You should receive your
invitation by April 1. You can
respond to the Census: online, by phone, or by mail (FTC).
The Census asks:
how many people are in the home at the time you complete the form; their sex,
age, race, ethnicity; their relationships to one another; phone number; and
whether you own or rent the home (FTC).
Scammers may pose as census workers
to steal your personal information, which can be used to commit identity theft.
If
you are visited by a census worker in-person, they must show a photo-ID. If you
would like, the census worker may also provide you with their supervisor’s
official contact information and the phone number to a regional office (FTC).
The
Census will never ask for: your
Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, passwords, money
or donations, or anything on behalf of a political party. Note: the 2020 Census
will not ask citizenship status (FTC).
The
Census Bureau may call you to follow up, or they might call if a census worker
visited your home while you were away. To verify the call, use the
Census Bureau website (FTC).
Still have questions about
the Census?
Visit the Census Bureau’s Frequently Asked Questions page, or call: (301) 763-INFO (4636) or (800) 923-8282.
As always, you can also call the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program:
(800) 649-2424.
Stay connected!
To receive official email updates from the U.S. Census Bureau, visit their website.
Charity fraud is, unfortunately, all too common. But don’t be discouraged. You can still make your charitable giving count by following the tips below to identify the bad actors from the good:
“Who are you and what is the name of this charity?” “Where is the charity located?” “How would my donation be used?” “Are you a paid fundraiser?”
Tip #2: Learn about Paid Fundraisers
Some charities hire paid fundraising companies to help them solicit donations. In Vermont, any charity using a paid fundraiser must register with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, and report how much of the donations received go to the fundraiser. Visit the Attorney General’s website to learn more and access donation information, or call the Consumer Assistance Program: 800-649-2424
Tip #3: Spot the Scam
Scammers use phone calls, mailings,
door-to-door solicitations, and emails to trick people into “donating” to their
“cause.”
Phone calls: Scammers will pressure you to give money right away. They might ask you to send cash or wire money, and they will not give many details about what the donation is for.
Mailings: You might receive a letter in the mail thanking you for a pledge you never made. This is a signal that the mailer is a scam. If you receive a mailer that you’re unsure about, do your homework by searching online, or call the Consumer Assistance Program.
Door-to-door: When someone knocks on your door to ask for a donation, the pressure is on. Remember that you are under no obligation to give. Ask for more information and do your research. If you cannot get legitimate information about the charity, odds are it is a scam.
Emails: Think before you click! Phishing emails look similar to messages from legitimate sources and use email addresses that seem familiar. Be cautious with suspicious emails and call a charity directly if you have questions. Don’t use a phone number on the suspicious email; look it up separately.
Some common charity scams in
Vermont include:
Pastor imposter scams: a scammer posing as a local religious leader asks you to donate to a cause using gift cards via email.
Fire or police organization imposter scams: a scammer calls asking for donations to a local or national first responder organization. If you get a suspicious solicitation, hang up the phone and call your local firefighter or police station to get more information.
Disaster scams: Scammers ask you to donate to a charity that provides relief for people who have experience natural disasters, except the charity doesn’t exist or they are impersonating a real charity. Always do your research before giving money or personal information.
Tip #4: Call the Consumer Assistance Program!
If you feel unsure about a charity
solicitation or believe you have donated to a scam, call the Consumer
Assistance Program! The Consumer Assistance Program can help identify warning
signs, provide paid fundraiser information, and help you recover from scams.
